Ridgewood officials line up plans for new year

When the ball dropped, millions may have resolved to eat better, get more organized or work on a |personal hobby, but resolutions are not just |for individuals. What about Ridgewood?

Asked by The Ridgewood News for their resolutions for Ridgewood in 2013, several village officials offered up some thoughts.

Some resolutions were made and their implementation undertaken long ago, as Superintendent Dan Fishbein pointed out.

"Since the start of the school district's New Year is actually July rather than January, resolutions are in fact prepared each summer, when the Board of Education (BOE) starts to work on a set of board and district goals and action plans that define its work for September through June," Fishbein said.

The district has several uncompleted goals, expected to be done by June, he noted. These include expanding curriculum technology use by providing direction and addressing staff professional development needs for the new "Bring Your Own Device" policy; implementing the third year of the three-year Skyward Implementation Action Plan; further advancing student achievement in language arts and math; and implementing a new state-mandated staff evaluation program.

The BOE will also enhance its training in the areas of "financial documentation, board roles and responsibilities" and compliance with the state's Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying protocol, while also working on the budget, Fishbein said. The BOE will develop "a prepared range of revenue/expense scenarios that can be implemented according to tax increases or decreases," Fishbein said.

The Ridgewood Engineering Department has a similar complete-what-was-started mindset, with the village's sustainable energy program already identified as one of its top priorities. Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser said he and Ridgewood Water facility superintendent Bob Gillow are anticipating the conclusion of the project that started about a year ago.

"The solar panels on the main firehouse are up and operating. The solar panels on the EMS building, Village Hall and then the water pollution control facility will follow. The biogas generator should be making power by the end of April," Rutishauser said, predicting that 2013 will be the year "being green" is fully realized at Ridgewood facilities.

The department also hopes to continue maintenance and repairs to village streets and complete work associated with the ADA-accessible ramp at Graydon Pool.

"We look forward to building this ramp and providing access to the pool for all residents," Rutishauser said.

Other resolutions offered were restatements of purpose. Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck said one of her goals is to "maintain positive connections with people and be a very good listener."

"My resolution is to keep projects moving and not see them get stuck in red tape, but to see some great new things be realized," Hauck said, adding that residents depend on Village Council to produce a stable tax structure and wise tax spending.

"This is certainly a time when municipalities must be innovative to be competitive," she said. "I'll work to keep Ridgewood the most desirable location to move to, stay in, work in and visit. Ridgewood should always feel like a quaint hometown that keeps pace with the demands of the 21st century. Lastly, I will ask to provide more for senior citizens here."

Joan Groome, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke about getting people's attention focused back on Ridgewood's Central Business District (CBD) through varied chamber-sponsored events.

"My resolution is the same as it was in 2012, 'To bring the consumer back to Ridgewood,'" she said.

Meanwhile, BOE President Sheila Brogan plans to work with the board and superintendent "to continue the good governance of the district, openly communicate with our stakeholders, and ensure that every student receives a high quality education mindful that we must do so cost effectively."

New Year resolutions also encouraged some consideration of what was done in the past year.

"We are now midway through the 2012-2013 school year and can happily report as we start 2013 that all goals are either completed or on target," Fishbein said, including the negotiation of a new three-year salary and benefits agreement with the Ridgewood Education Association.

Meanwhile, the growth of chamber-sponsored events is a sign of success for Groome's ongoing resolution. Easter in the Park and the Ridgewood car show brought in thousands more people last year, and a new May Craft Fair attracted about 12,000 people, she said.

Tom Hillmann, president of the chamber and owner of Hillmann Lighting, noted that several Ridgewood businesses expanded in 2012, and the chamber reached its largest membership while working with the village to "streamline" the process of opening a new business. Many empty storefronts have signed leases, he said.

Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Coordinator Jeremy Kleiman is also banking on the concept of cooperation in the |village.

"OEM's resolution for 2013 is to harness the tremendous volunteer spirit we saw residents exhibit toward their neighbors and community during Hurricane Sandy," Kleiman said. "We resolve to do this by forming an OEM volunteer reserve corps."

Kleiman and his staff envision the group resembling a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), already active in surrounding towns.

"The idea is to enlist and train residents in a variety of support roles to assist OEM both during emergencies and between events to help make our community a safer place," Kleiman said.

Asked by The Ridgewood News for their resolutions for Ridgewood in 2013, several village officials offered up some thoughts.

Some resolutions were made and their implementation undertaken long ago, as Superintendent Dan Fishbein pointed out.

"Since the start of the school district's New Year is actually July rather than January, resolutions are in fact prepared each summer, when the Board of Education (BOE) starts to work on a set of board and district goals and action plans that define its work for September through June," Fishbein said.

The district has several uncompleted goals, expected to be done by June, he noted. These include expanding curriculum technology use by providing direction and addressing staff professional development needs for the new "Bring Your Own Device" policy; implementing the third year of the three-year Skyward Implementation Action Plan; further advancing student achievement in language arts and math; and implementing a new state-mandated staff evaluation program.

The BOE will also enhance its training in the areas of "financial documentation, board roles and responsibilities" and compliance with the state's Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying protocol, while also working on the budget, Fishbein said. The BOE will develop "a prepared range of revenue/expense scenarios that can be implemented according to tax increases or decreases," Fishbein said.

The Ridgewood Engineering Department has a similar complete-what-was-started mindset, with the village's sustainable energy program already identified as one of its top priorities. Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser said he and Ridgewood Water facility superintendent Bob Gillow are anticipating the conclusion of the project that started about a year ago.

"The solar panels on the main firehouse are up and operating. The solar panels on the EMS building, Village Hall and then the water pollution control facility will follow. The biogas generator should be making power by the end of April," Rutishauser said, predicting that 2013 will be the year "being green" is fully realized at Ridgewood facilities.

The department also hopes to continue maintenance and repairs to village streets and complete work associated with the ADA-accessible ramp at Graydon Pool.

"We look forward to building this ramp and providing access to the pool for all residents," Rutishauser said.

Other resolutions offered were restatements of purpose. Councilwoman Gwenn Hauck said one of her goals is to "maintain positive connections with people and be a very good listener."

"My resolution is to keep projects moving and not see them get stuck in red tape, but to see some great new things be realized," Hauck said, adding that residents depend on Village Council to produce a stable tax structure and wise tax spending.

"This is certainly a time when municipalities must be innovative to be competitive," she said. "I'll work to keep Ridgewood the most desirable location to move to, stay in, work in and visit. Ridgewood should always feel like a quaint hometown that keeps pace with the demands of the 21st century. Lastly, I will ask to provide more for senior citizens here."

Joan Groome, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke about getting people's attention focused back on Ridgewood's Central Business District (CBD) through varied chamber-sponsored events.

"My resolution is the same as it was in 2012, 'To bring the consumer back to Ridgewood,'" she said.

Meanwhile, BOE President Sheila Brogan plans to work with the board and superintendent "to continue the good governance of the district, openly communicate with our stakeholders, and ensure that every student receives a high quality education mindful that we must do so cost effectively."

New Year resolutions also encouraged some consideration of what was done in the past year.

"We are now midway through the 2012-2013 school year and can happily report as we start 2013 that all goals are either completed or on target," Fishbein said, including the negotiation of a new three-year salary and benefits agreement with the Ridgewood Education Association.

Meanwhile, the growth of chamber-sponsored events is a sign of success for Groome's ongoing resolution. Easter in the Park and the Ridgewood car show brought in thousands more people last year, and a new May Craft Fair attracted about 12,000 people, she said.

Tom Hillmann, president of the chamber and owner of Hillmann Lighting, noted that several Ridgewood businesses expanded in 2012, and the chamber reached its largest membership while working with the village to "streamline" the process of opening a new business. Many empty storefronts have signed leases, he said.

Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Coordinator Jeremy Kleiman is also banking on the concept of cooperation in the |village.